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Happy International Day of the Girl! What Would You Tell Your Teen Self?

Today’s a special day! Not only is it 10.11.12, it’s also the International Day of the Girl. The day marks a way to advocate for girls’ rights and raise issues of gender bias.

So, how does this relate to a career, you ask? And what if you’re a guy?

There’s something we can all learn from CNN’s interviews with the most successful women in terms of advice would they give to their 15 year-old selves.

In the HR world, it falls into the bucket of professional development and in the real world, it’s just really good inspiration.

As you peruse their thought-provoking answers, we leave you with the same question — seriously, what would you tell your 15 year-old self? To not sweat the small stuff? Carpe diem? That the future would bestow technology on media divas and darlings in the making and we would have no idea this would include blogging, vlogging, Tweeting and Pinteresting? Food for thought.

Let’s take a look:

“Make sure you continue to trust what you know about yourself and stay true to what you believe in.” — Melinda Gates

“Never think that someone else knows what’s best for you. Trust your way and don’t ask for so much advice. Learn how to be quiet and still enough to hear your own voice. It’s up to you: Your voice will either be silenced or will get to roar.” — Maria Shriver

“Be spontaneous and improvise, both in your music and in your life.” — Vanessa Mae, violinist

“Do not fear failure. Do not let negative experiences — and there are always plenty — get in your way. In your life, many things, especially the biggest heartbreaks — will only make sense when you look back, not when you are experiencing them. Many of what seem at the time to be your biggest setbacks will end up leading to your biggest opportunities, and in ways you can’t predict.” — Arianna Huffington

“Believe in your dreams and ideals and pursue them with determination and motivation. Always find the time to do something for other people. Indeed, there is nothing more rewarding than making someone else happy.” — Fabiola Gianotti, Physicist, CERN